SEATTLE - When Xavier senior Tudy Reed thinks about how her college basketball career might end, she doesn't want it to finish with three losses in her last four games.

But that's what will happen if the No. 5 seed Musketeers lose in the first round Saturday night to 12th-seeded Gonzaga in the NCAA Women's Tournament at Bank of America Arena. Xavier coach Kevin McGuff hopes that realization serves as important motivation for his seniors, Reed and Jerri Taylor, as Xavier tries to avoid a first-round loss for the third straight season. A year ago, a ninth-seeded Xavier team without any seniors lost to Nebraska in the first round.

"It does feel different this year," McGuff said. "Our preparation has been more focused. And now with two seniors with a real sense of urgency, they've helped the rest of the team understand that."

Reed played for a Rutgers team that won six NCAA Tournament games in 2005 and 2006, but the 5-foot-11 forward played sparingly and transferred to Oklahoma State. A native of Chicago, she disliked Stillwater, Okla., and transferred to Xavier on the recommendation of her club basketball coach, who knew McGuff. Once eligible, she added a reliable scoring option last season, but made just 2 of 12 field goals in the NCAA Tournament loss to Nebraska.

"Last year we played and lost, and it was kind of like, 'Oh, there'll be next year,' " Reed said. "Now, it's like, 'I'm not going to get another chance to play with these girls on this stage with these coaches.' I want to get as many wins as possible now."

Xavier's last win came three weeks ago at home against Fordham. The Musketeers (25-6) sandwiched that win with a loss at Temple and a surprising loss to Dayton in the quarterfinals of the A-10 Tournament.

Practice sessions since have been exercises in regaining intensity and waiting for today's game against Gonzaga.

"The pressure now is not to get a first-round win," junior forward April Phillips said. "I think we know if we come out and play the way we're capable of playing, we will get a win."

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It's been so long, however, since Xavier played that way, Phillips acknowledged, that it's hard to remember how well XU was playing during January and February when the Musketeers strung together 15 straight wins.

"We've had a really, really good two weeks of practice," she said. "I take it as positive time where we were able to rest and recoup."

Gonzaga coach Kelly Graves said that much of the Bulldogs' preparation has centered on sophomore forward Ta'Shia Phillips, XU's All-American candidate who averages 13.5 points and 11.9 rebounds. If junior Amber Harris plays, in what would be her first game back from knee surgery, she presents additional problems in the post for Gonzaga, Graves said.

McGuff, however, is as much concerned about the leadership he gets from Reed and Taylor as he is about Phillips or Harris.

"I look at the (Xavier) guys' program, and when they've made their best runs, it's been with seniors leading the way," McGuff said. "Until you get to that senior year, you don't understand what kind of a sense of urgency that is for a senior. And Jerri and Tudy have both been great here down the stretch."